Lay down your guns to bring lasting peace to Bawku - IGP urges youth

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has urged the youth of the feuding factions in the protracted Bawku conflict to lay down their guns to bring lasting peace to the area.

“I wish to appeal to you to put down your arms and have confidence in the security officers deployed so that together we can work assiduously to bring the needed peace for the benefit of all,” he indicated.

Mr Yohuno made the remark when he led some members of the police management board to embark on a visit to Bawku in the Upper East Region last Friday.

The two-day visit was as a result of last Wednesday’s confrontation between some police officers and some youth, which led to the death of Fuseini Iddrisu and five others sustaining gunshot wounds.

The youth attempted to prevent some market women from accessing the market but some police officers who came to the scene wanted the youth to allow the women to enter the market.

That led to the confrontation, resulting in the death of one of them.

As part of the visit, the IGP and his team paid a courtesy call on the Overlord of Kusaug, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, visited the injured at the hospital and also interacted with the personnel on the ground.

He used the occasion to apologise for any mishap by the officers deployed to the area, saying “I wish to assure you that the officers will work according to their mandate”.

He added that the security officers would remain neutral and not take sides in the course of their operations and urged the people to report any officer who did not exhibit neutrality to the leadership for it to be addressed.

“Officers deployed are not expected to be here permanently and that their expectation is to help Bawku to return to its past glory as the most vibrant commercial town in the region,” the IGP stated.

He cautioned the youth against turning their anger and frustration on the peacekeepers but rather entreated them to work closely with them and other stakeholders towards bringing relative peace to the area.

He stated that there were a lot of officers in the service from the area who had distinguished themselves and that once the opportunity availed itself, they would be given the opportunity to go through the normal process to be recruited.

Speaking through a spokesperson, Naba Azoka II said the market at the centre of the latest confrontation between the officers and some youth was established to enable the women to have a peaceful environment to trade.

He demanded justice for Fuseini Iddrisu, who was allegedly shot dead by a police officer, although he was unarmed, together with the five other injured persons, to serve as a deterrent to other officers.

He requested the removal of officers who have compromised themselves in the line of duty, as it was the surest way to build trust with the people and further urged the officers to continue to remain impartial in their operations.

While commending President John Dramani Mahama for actions taken since assuming office in relation to the Bawku conflict, he urged him to do more to end the conflict towards the growth and development of the area.

Writer’s email; gilbert.agbey@graphic.com.gh.